TOPIC:

In my 2-channel system I am using a Mac Mini as a Roon core and endpoint, feeding a tube DAC via USB, with the analogue outs from the DAC going into a Primaluna integrated amp. The amp has a dedicated subwoofer output which I use to drive an SVS sub, whilst a second REL sub is driven off the speaker taps. I love the sound of the DAC and don’t want to bypass it. I can drive the REL via a line level (RCA) signal but would prefer not to for a couple of reasons not relevant here.

Does it make sense here to use a SHD Studio to feed the DAC and treat the entire system as just a big 2.0 setup, or are there significant gains to be made from using the analogue outputs of the SHD to drive each of the subs independently? Or is there another approach I'm overlooking...?

I'm no expert, having owned and used a SHD for only a couple weeks, but feeding my 2 subs via the analog outputs has made a huge difference. The biggest thing was adjusting the impulse response of the subwoofers to match that of the main speakers. Unless your subs are located under or right next to your main speakers there is a time misalignment between the mains and subs. Fixing that made a huge improvement in bass coherence and imaging. My case was probably extreme since I use wireless connections to both subs which led to a ~25ms delay in response even though the subs and mains were co-located for each channel. Adding a 25ms delay to the main channels fixed that nicely.

I agree with Jeff. My stereo subs are under my mains and still needed time alignment, even though the amount was tiny at 1.19ms.

The better integration I could get running it as a 2.2 system made a huge difference in my room.

Dirac afterwards was just the icing on the cake...

Ben